The quantity of silver produced never lived up to expectations, but this was more to do with the geology than mining methods. One of the mines, Bwlch-yr-eskir-hir, was much hyped as the Welsh Potosi and from the silver was produced a silver ewer inscribed ‘The Mines of Bwlch-yr-Eskir-hir’, c.1692. The Library at AC-NMW holds several versions of William Waller’s maps produced for the Company of Mine Adventurers in 16 as well as Sir John Pettus’ Fodinae Regales published in 1670. Maps and mine plans produced to market the silver mines to investors are some of the earliest to have been made in Britain. The addition of a small open book at the top signifies that the silver was produced by Thomas Bushell from the Cardiganshire mines on behalf of the Company of Mines Royal.
Their characteristic feature is the three feathers on both sides of the coin. Its success ultimately led to its destruction by Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War in 1646.Īmgueddfa Cymru holds examples of the many silver coins minted at Aberystwyth. King James I and King Charles I both made handsome profits from the mines (producing 7 and 100 tons of silver respectively), so much so that in 1638 Charles I decided to establish a mint nearby at Aberystwyth Castle. During the reign of Elizabeth I it is estimated that 4 tons of silver was produced from the Cardiganshire mines. It is much more likely that it was discovered by Ulrich Frosse, a German mining engineer experienced in silver mining who visited the mine at about the same time and advised Smythe. It is reported that the first rich discovery of silver was made at Cwmsymlog (sometimes written as Cum sum luck in historical records) mine in 1583 by Thomas Smythe, Chief Customs Officer for the Port of London.
The Romans almost certainly had a part to play in the discovery of the metal-rich mineral veins, but it was Queen Elizabeth I who oversaw their development as silver mines. In the northernmost part of Ceredigion (the old county of Cardiganshire) near to the village of Goginan lie a number of disused mines which were some of the richest silver producers in the history of the British Isles. In Wales, silver has played an important role in the history of Wales, but this is often forgotten. Silver is a precious metal, but it has never been as valuable as gold. Silver (chemical symbol – Ag), atomic number 47, is one of the original seven metals of alchemy and was represented by the symbol of a crescent moon.
To start off our series of blogs, for January we have silver. Look out for these throughout the year on our website. In recognition of this Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales will be running a series of monthly blogs, each one covering a different chemical element and its significance to Wales.